Coming through to take the second overall finishing position was Richardson Racing/Action Off-Road/Kenda’s Cole Richardson. Richardson would run at the front of the pack during the opening lap, but he would fall to fifth after the FMF Power Point. Richardson would make his way back up to second, crossing the line almost one minute behind Neal. After finishing second at the opening round, Richardson will be looking to remain at the front in hopes of earning an overall win in 2023. 

Hunter Hart Racing/Ithaca Recreation Sports/Fly Racing’s Hunter Hart rounded out the top three overall finishers at the opening round of GNCC. Hart would come through seventh on lap one and continue to push for the duration of the race. As the checkered flag came out Hart would cross the line third, with just 1 second separating himself and fourth place.

Earning fourth overall on the day was Pierce Performance/Action Off-Road/GBC/Active Waste Solution’s John Glauda Jr. while Action Off-Road/GBC Tires/Rath Racing/SSi Decal’s Joshua Merritt rounded out the top five overall. Glauda would push throughout the race, but he would be passed by Hart on lap three. Glauda would be unable to make the pass stick, holding onto fourth place. Merritt would have an incredible ride as he came tried to make a run for a podium finish.

The XC1 rookies, Action Off-Road/Pro Graphx/Kenda/Pierce Performance’s Jay Shadron and Stewart Boys Racing/GBC/Pierce Performance/Focus X’s Wyatt Wilkin would finish sixth and seventh overall on the day. Shadron would work his way from eighth to maintain a top 10 finish. Wilkin came through second on the opening lap but would soon fall to fifth and eventually come through seventh on the day.

After grabbing the XC1 All Balls Racing Holeshot award, JMR/GBC/Elka/Moose Racing’s Jarrod McClure would come through third on the opening lap. Unfortunately, McClure would fall back to eighth on the second lap and remain there for the rest of the two-hour race. OBOR Tires/Moose Racing/Parts Unlimited-backed racer, Adam McGill would come through to earn ninth on the day, while Fly Racing/Maxxis/AMSOIL-backed racer, Chris Borich rounded out the top 10 in the XC1 Pro and overall.

In the XC2 Pro-Am class it was Steven Harrell Racing/BNR Motorsports/Kenda/HMF’s Steve Harrell coming through to take the class win, and 12^th overall at the season opener. Harrell would lead the way on lap one but had Owens Racing/Osburn Off-Road/Moose Racing/OBOR’s Branden Owens battling him back and forth through the entire race. Harrell would make the pass back on Owens to take the win, and Owens would come through 28 seconds behind him to take second in the XC2 class. Rounding out the XC2 podium was Phoenix Racing Yamaha’s Grayson Eller after he worked his way up from a seventh place start to the day.

Kevin Yoho would come through 19th overall to earn the first Top Amateur honors of the 2023 season as he took the Vet A class win as well. Earning the College A class win and 21st overall finishing position was Alex Thieman, who also came through to earn second on the Top Amateur podium. Then it would be Andre Williams coming through to round out the Top Amateur podium with his 22nd overall finish and second in the College A class.

In the 4x4 Pro class it was Ryco Racing/Kenda Tires/KMK Off-Road/Elite Graphic’s Cody Collier making his way to the front of the pack. Collier would have his work cut out for him as Pro Row 784/GBC/BNR/Victory Golf Cart’s Brandon Frazier and LW Racing/OBOR/Action Off-Road’s Landon Wolfe would swap the lead with him multiple times throughout the race. Collier would make a last lap pass to take over the lead again, earning the first win of 2023. Frazier would cross the line in second followed by Wolfe in third. 

Coming through to take the WXC class win was Elioff Racing/BNR Motorsports/GBC Tires/Fly Racing’s Jessica Elioff. She would hold the early lead while battling with Hurricane Hannah/Fly Racing/OBOR Tires/HFM’s Hannah Hunter. Hunter would make a pass for the lead, but Elioff would put her head down and make a last lap pass to take over the lead once again. Hunter would hold onto second at the opening round. It was JMR/Action Off-Road/GBC/Moose Racing’s Katelyn Osburn who would come through to take the final podium position in the WXC class after her last lap push from running in fourth for the majority of the race. 

Starting off the day in South Carolina was the Youth ATV racers as Andrew Smallwood came through to earn the overall, and YXC1 Super Mini Sr. class win. Bryce Pullen and Grant Hunter would round out the top three overall youth finishers and top three in the YXC1 class. Avery Collins came through in fourth overall, and she would take the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class win. Gavin Brand and Stetson Owens would round out the top three YXC2 finishers in South Carolina.

In the 250 (13-15) class it was Logan Phillips earning the win, with Ethan Hopkins taking the 250 (13-15) Limited class win. Brayden Cox earned the 125 (8-12) class win, while Maverick Smith earned the 125 Limited (8-12) class win. Landon Glauda would take home the 90cc (8-12) class win. Ryleigh Dearing earned the Schoolgirl Sr. (13-15) class win, with Paisley Stout claiming the Schoolgirl Jr. (12-15) class win. Kaydence Ellis would earn the Girls Sr. class win at round one, while Falyn Holcomb took the Girls Jr. class win. In the 70 CVT (6-11) class it was Stratton Weddle earning the win.

As the Micro ATV racers took to the course it was Torque Tong coming through to earn this Micro ATV overall win. Bryson Dickerson and JP Pickens Jr. would round out the top three in the MXC1 class and Micro ATV overall finishing positions. Chad McCormick earned the MXC2 class win followed by Colt Delabar and Joshua Swantek rounding out the top three in MXC2. 

Johnny Martin Jr. would earn the 50 Sr. (6-7) class, while Kale Talbert earned the 50 Jr. (4-5) class win. Brantley Slack brought home the 90 Stock (8-9) class win, while Tori Barrett came through to take home the 110 CVT Stock (8-9) class win. 

Earning the Micro Bike MXC1 and overall win was Gage Lane from Pingree Grove, Illinois. Maverick Boyer and Ledger Adams rounded out the Micro Bike overall top three and MXC1 finishers. Tripp Lewis, Hudson Cohen and Davey Fairfield battled back to earn the top three spots in the MXC2 class on Saturday morning. 

Justus Pearston would take the 50 Sr. 1 (7) class win, followed by Ryder Baricska earning the 50 Sr. 2 (6) class win. Peyton Austin would earn the Micro-E (4-7) class win, while Ryder Bower came through to take the 50 Jr. 1 (6-7) class win. Coming through to take the 50 Jr. 2 (4-5) class win was Carson Zink, and in the Micro Shaft Drive class it was Hunter Siegel earning the class win. Cash Jones came through from Georgia to earn the Trail Rider (7-9) class win. 

Youth Bike Racing took place on Saturday evening as the round one racing schedule was modified to accommodate the large amount of amateur bike racers on Sunday. It would be Ryan Amancio coming through to earn the YXC1 Super Mini Sr. and youth overall class win. Earning second overall was Mason Raynor, who would come through to also win the YXC2 Super Mini Jr. class. Austin Tsakanikas rounded out the top three youth overall finishers, while also earning second place in the YXC1 class. 

James Jenkins rounded out the top three finishers in the YXC1 class, while Caleb Wood and Doc Smith finished second and third in the YXC2 class. Jayden Riley would earn the 85 Big Wheel (11-15) class win, Travis Lentz earned the 85cc (12-13) class win, Hayden Dupuis earned the 85cc (7-11) class win, Beau Garetson won the 65cc (10-11) class, Jace Mitchell won the 65cc (9) class and Tripp Lewis won the 65cc (7-8) class. Then in the Girls Super Mini (12-16) class it was Addison Harris earning the class win, Sahara Robinson earned the Girls 85 (7-13) class win, Baylee Arsenault earned the Girls 65 (7-11) class win. Rounding out the youth race it was Peyton Robinson earning the Trail Rider class win.